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EarthLove

Sharing Songs of Earth and Sky

In the Belly

February 1, 2021 By Nancy L Leave a Comment

in the belly
of the mother
seeds are stirring
shhh, listen.

life is awakening
in the body of her
the sacred wheel
turns toward spring.

~Nancy Lankston

🌱

There is natural magic afoot right now. It is there, running just beneath the surface. Can you feel it? All winter long, Mama Earth holds the seeds of spring safe for us. As the cold wind blows and the snow piles up, the Mother holds them safe in her soil body.

Then, in early February, as the wheel of the year slowly turns towards spring, the seeds begin to stir. Life is reawakening in the ground of the Mother. Imbolc has quietly arrived.

Imbolc was a ritual feast time for the ancient Celtic tribes. Their legends tell us of the Cailleach — the divine hag Goddess who rules over winter and death. The Cailleach is said to gather firewood for the rest of the winter on Imbolc. If the Cailleach wishes to make winter last a lot longer, she will make sure that the weather on Imbolc is bright and sunny, so she can gather plenty of firewood. But, if Imbolc is a day of foul weather, it means the Cailleach is asleep and winter is almost over. This is the origin of modern Groundhog Day.

The Cailleach is the sacred Earth Mother Goddess in her bare winter form. She is is also the Bone Mother who collects the bones of the animals that die in the winter. The Bone Mother sings and prays over the bones of the animals all winter long. She does this out of love, so that the animals will cross over and be able to return as new life in the spring.

Celebrate!
Spring is on its way.

🌱

Note: Imbolc means “in the belly”. It is an old Irish word that honors the pregnant ewes carrying new life in their wombs at this time of year. Imbolc is traditionally celebrated at the halfway point between winter solstice and spring equinox.

Filed Under: Inspire Nature Love, Seasons of the Sun, Share Ideas and Practices Tagged With: Cailleach, Imbolc, magic, mama earth, nature, season, seed, spring, wheel of the year, winter

Return of the Light

December 20, 2020 By Nancy L Leave a Comment

Winter Solstice is upon us in the northern hemisphere.

Our Earth has reached a transition point in its journey around the Sun (far right in the graphic above). Here in the north, our days have been getting shorter and shorter since summer. But now, the light begins to return to us. Our days will gradually lengthen and lighten until Summer Solstice in June (far left in the graphic).

At Winter Solstice, our ancestors paused to celebrate this seasonal shift and the return of life giving sunlight. Now is a time for earthy rituals.

Light a candle, say a prayer, walk in nature and offer our Earth and Sun gratitude for the alchemical magic of sunlight, water and soil that sustains us all.

🌞🌎

#CyclesandSeasons
#ReturnoftheLight

Image: Wikipedia

Filed Under: Sacred Earth, Seasons of the Sun Tagged With: dark, light, mama earth, ritual, season, solstice, sun, wheel of the year, winter

Winter Solstice

December 20, 2019 By Nancy L 1 Comment

Winter Solstice officially occurs Saturday night December 21st in North America. But the entire weekend is filled with sacred solstice light.

This is the perfect time to pause for a moment or two. Silently express gratitude for all life on Earth – Life made possible through the magic alchemy of sunlight, soil and water.

Winter Solstice Chant

Vines, leaves, roots of darkness, growing,
now you are uncurled and cover our eyes
with the edge of winter sky
leaning over us in icy stars.
Vines, leaves, roots of darkness, growing,
come with your seasons, your fullness, your end.

~Annie Finch

☀️

Winter Trees

All the complicated details 
of the attiring and 
the disattiring are completed! 
A liquid moon 
moves gently among 
the long branches. 
Thus having prepared their buds 
against a sure winter 
the wise trees 
stand sleeping in the cold.
~William Carlos Williams

Image by Marinus Keyzer.

Filed Under: Inspire Nature Love, Seasons of the Sun Tagged With: light, solstice, sun, wheel of the year, winter

Winter Love

January 7, 2019 By Nancy L Leave a Comment

Filed Under: Inspire Nature Love, Open to Earth Wisdom and Guidance, Seasons of the Sun Tagged With: love, pause, silence, wheel of the year, winter

Solstice By Moonlight

December 20, 2018 By Nancy L Leave a Comment

‪Full moon in watery Cancer lights up the longest night in the northern hemisphere. This is a traditional time of rest and reflection. Sit in the stillness of winter solstice and breathe with the slow flow of nature in winter. Slow down and enjoy the quiet gifts of the season.

#FullMoon
#SolsticeLight ‬

Filed Under: Rhythms of the Moon, Seasons of the Sun Tagged With: breath, Cancer, Capricorn, moon, relax, silence, solstice, wheel of the year, winter

Snow Mandala

February 16, 2018 By Nancy L Leave a Comment

#EarthLove

Filed Under: Inspire Nature Love, Seasons of the Sun Tagged With: love, mandala, snow, winter

The Sound of Snow

January 12, 2018 By Nancy L Leave a Comment

She asked me how to describe the sound
of snow falling softly in the mountains.
 
I stood among the flurries until the tears came,
until I couldn’t stop them. Not even
if I’d wanted to,
 
and I didn’t.
 
And, after a good long while, I replied:
“You must let your heart break for want of love. 
You must listen carefully when it does. 
Whatever it is you hear then,
that is it;
 
That is the sound of snow falling,
softly, 
in the mountains.”
by
Jamie K. Reasor
Winter: Reflections by Snowlight

Filed Under: Inspire Nature Love, Open to Earth Wisdom and Guidance Tagged With: heal, heart, Jamie K Reaser, listen, mountain, snow, winter

The Return of the Light

December 21, 2017 By Nancy L Leave a Comment

Happy Solstice

Thank you, Mama Earth and Papa Sky for the return of the light.
We are so blessed to live on this beautiful planet

#WinterSolstice

Filed Under: Inspire Nature Love, Sacred Earth, Seasons of the Sun Tagged With: cycle, dark, elemental fire, light, ritual, solstice, wheel of the year, winter

The In-Between Time of Samhain

November 1, 2017 By Nancy L Leave a Comment

The In-Between

Certain times in our lives are filled with potency and magic. Twilight is such a time, as is dawn. These are magical moments when it is neither day nor night. Birth is another potent in-between time, along with death. These special times mark borders and transition zones. The in-between is a sacred time when magic is afoot.

Here in the northern hemisphere, we find ourselves on the boundary between autumn and winter. The light is slowly fading away as our Sun drops lower and lower in the sky and our nights grow longer. This is another potent in-between time. The ancient Celtic people would celebrate Samhain (Sow-in) at this time.  Some tribes chose to celebrate at the 1st new moon after late harvest (October 19th this year). Other tribes celebrated at the 1st full moon after harvest (November 3rd this year). The celebration of Samhain was a beautiful way to honor the seasonal  transition out of the light and into the dark.

The veils between the worlds grow very thin during this sacred in-between time.  Loved ones who have departed this Earth are believed to be nearby. Many people in Mexico honor this by celebrating Dia de los Muertos  (Day of the Dead) at this time.

Samhain is the perfect time to acknowledge and celebrate the sacred cycles of birth – growth – death – rebirth that are an integral part of Nature.

☯

Some suggestions for acknowledging and honoring the magical in-between time of Samhain:

Take a few moments to honor everything you have “harvested” this year.

Bow to your ancestors and thank them for giving you this life.

Offer love and prayers to loved ones who have transitioned.

Thank the brilliant light of summer and embrace the deep dark of winter.

Listen for spiritual guidance to help you in the coming year.

Celebrate the Magic of Samhain.

Filed Under: Sacred Earth, Seasons of the Sun, Share Ideas and Practices Tagged With: autumn, dark, day, Day of the Dead, gratitude, light, night, ritual, Samhain, wheel of the year, winter

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